Forensic Tales

#226 - In 2016, 27-year-old Mirna Salihin met up with a group of friends to grab some coffee - but less than 30 minutes later, she ended up dead after taking a few sips of her drink. No one had any idea what could have happened to her at the coffee shop - until forensic evidence raised some serious and deadly suspicions.   Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support...

The environmental news headlines you need to know for Friday, April 26 2024: [00:30] The world's biggest plastic polluters revealed [2:30] Biden limits oil drilling in the Alaskan arctic (it's also an election year) [5:00] One of the worst coral bleaching events happening right now in the Great Barrier Reef [8:00] Nearly 2 in 5 Americans live in a place with unhealthy or hazardous air. Are...

We Homo Sapiens are notorious for avoiding pain and seeking pleasure. In fact, we have transformed the planet from a place of scarcity to a place of overwhelming abundance, with ample opportunities to flood our brains with dopamine at every turn. But over-consuming has consequences: Exposure to prolonged and repeated pleasurable stimuli decreases our capacity to tolerate pain and increases our thr...

#225 - A man’s empty boat is found miles away from his home. And when his body surfaces over a week later, the authorities and his family are left with more questions than answers. Did Patrick Mullins, a beloved librarian and high school teacher, take his own life in 2013? Or does the forensic evidence point to something far more sinister?   Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to...

Last year was the hottest year on record, so it's safe to say that Earth Day as we traditionally celebrate isn't working. On today's show I suggest what I believe is the antidote to the climate crisis (and I'm willing to bet you won't be able to guess what it is!).   Here's a preview: [3:45] The Big 5: We know what we should do environment-wise, so why aren't we doing i...

Reminder! Our hands can do more than type and text. In fact, they can grow things. On today's show — and in honor of National Gardening Day! — permaculture expert  Kareen Erbe  lists countless tangible and intangible benefits associated with active participation in your local growing community; she also offers practical suggestions for getting off our screens and reengaging with the natural wo...

#224 - It’s been almost four decades since real estate agent Suzy Lamplugh left her office to meet with a potential buyer named “Mr Kipper” and was never seen again. The 25-year-old simply vanished on July 28th, 1986, and her body has never been found, leaving many unanswered questions.   Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by leaving us a positive rating...

Identifying 5 expensive and downright impractical geoengineering ideas designed to curb global warming: [5:30] 2 direct carbon capture projects (one of which plans to drill more oil) [8:30] A gigantic umbrella in space? [10:00] Adding iron to the ocean in hopes of spurring algae blooms [13:00] Sending sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere in weather balloons, oh my   Resources mentioned: This show is...

Take stealth wealth and reverse it: Stealth frugality is what happens when a person lives big without spending lots of money.  On today's show: A laundry list of the ways in which we can each live a rich life but do so frugally.  *A note from Stephanie: I mention a ridiculous amount of companies in today's show. None of them are sponsored!   Here's a preview: [6:00] Home is where the h...

Work emails. Social media notifications. Weather alerts. The constant news cycle. In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's easy to get lost in the chaos of endless distractions. Yet research has shown that information overload can lead to mental exhaustion, reduced cognitive function, and an inability to make sound decisions. On the other hand, intentional disconnection has the power to e...

#223 - In 1989, four members of the Pelley family from Indiana were gunned down inside their home. Without any leads or forensic evidence, the police decided they had their suspect: the Pelley family's 17-year-old son, Jeff. And the motive was simple: Jeff murdered his family because he wasn't allowed to go to prom. Is Jeff Pelley guilty or innocent?   Support My Work If you love the show, the eas...

Can a white couch and a toddler coexist?  Research finds that environment impacts well-being, and we shouldn't have to wait 18 years to enjoy our homes.  On today's show we address the age-old question: Can we have kids and nice things? The answer is yes; here's how.   Here's a preview: [6:00] Hey you. (Yes, you!) You don't have to wait 18 years to enjoy your home [21:00] Don&#...

Living the low-tox life can seem expensive and out of reach. But it doesn’t have to be. On today's show podcaster  Regan Nelson  suggests 7 research-backed ways to reduce your exposure to toxins that just so happen to *also* be free.  Here's a preview: [10:00] Lead! Pesticides! Here's what's on the bottom of your shoes  [14:00] Sure, this household staple is convenient (but it'...

#222 - Over four weeks in the winter of 1984, five women were assaulted at knifepoint in a series of attacks in and around the East End neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. The police quickly zeroed in on their suspect, Thomas Haynesworth, after every one of the victims identified him as the preparator. But can eyewitness identification always be trusted?   Support My Work If you love the show, the...

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 29 2024: [00:30] Here's why Americans pay the most after a natural disaster [6:00] New laws against intentional methane release, plus: why this new law is a money maker  [9:00] Throwing $$ at the industrial carbon emissions problem [12:00] Introducing radar gaps (a.k.a. another thing to worry about)   Resources mentioned: Radar gaps threaten m...

Fossil fuels power our modern lives, and yet fossil fuels are also powering global warming. Because many of us lack the self-sufficient skills necessary to survive an extended power outage event, we are one thing and one thing only: vulnerable. We have become over-reliant on the very thing that's destroying our planet. On today's show: Imagining the ways in which modern life, interpersonal...

When it comes to furnishing and styling ours homes, we all deserve spaces that facilitate easeful living. But for those of us without an eye for design? Furniture and decor mistakes can happen (and they can be costly). On today's show best-selling author  Myquillyn Smith  reveals her signature house rules for homes of every size, style, and budget; she also shows us how to get the most amount...

#221 - Two three-year-old girls from Noxubee County, Mississippi, are found murdered under very similar circumstances. They were both abducted from their homes, sexually assaulted, and killed. Their killers also left behind a strong piece of forensic evidence: a bitemark. But despite their similarities suggesting the same person was responsible for both crimes, two separate men were arrested large...

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 22 2024: [00:30] What you need to know about "the most significant climate regulation in US history" announced this week [6:15] It has never been cheaper to purchase an EV, and here's why [9:00] ... Speaking of EVs: enter mega mining [12:00] Hi, TIM! How to book a flight like a conscious consumer    Resources mentioned: This show is li...

Things are a-changin' around here.  On today's show: Introducing new ways to support the show (with fun perks like ad-free shows, subscriber-only episodes and, yes, real life Book Club!) This is YOUR show. As always, thank you for your support! >> https://sustainableminimalists.substack.com/   -- Join our (free!) community  here . Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on  Face...

Eating meals together is the ultimate parenting cheat code, and that's because in just one hour you can improve your kids' academic performance, self-esteem, and cardiovascular health while simultaneously reducing their risks of substance misuse, depression, and obesity. On today's show: author  Annette Thurmon  on making the kitchen the heart of the home once again.   Here's a pre...

#220 - It's a murder still widely talked about today: the 1996 unsolved murder of hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur. Although an arrest was recently made in the case, some people wonder if we'll ever know what happened that night in Las Vegas. And if forensic evidence can still be tested in the case.   Who murdered Tupac?   Support My Work If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by...

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 15 2024: [00:30] The paradox that's holding back clean energy gains [7:15] You're not crazy: Spring is indeed arriving earlier [13:00] Breaking down the EU's new 'gold standard' deforestation law [12:00] A war on utes? Updates from Australia's emissions regulations   Resources mentioned: Episode #187: Everything You Need To...

Today's show is a series of 3 very diverse updates straight from developments in my own life: The first is about self-sufficiency, the second is sustainability-focused, and the final act dedicates itself to intentional living. Here's a preview: [3:00] Act 1: The hydroponic growing hype. (Stephanie's good, bad, and ugly experiences with her new grow tower) [16:00] Act 2: Electrify Every...

There's convenience, and then there's *excessive* convenience. While some modern conveniences are indeed necessary and needed, the excessive ones can be detrimental to ourselves and society as a whole. Items and services of convenience are often substitutes for supportive culture and connection. On today's show historian  Jennifer Newton  and I discuss how culture - and specifically ex...